Direct Air Capture & the Future of Carbon Removal with Aditya Bhandari, CEO of DACLab

Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy Podcast

Direct air capture (DAC) is a groundbreaking technology that could play a critical role in the fight against climate change. But is it scalable? Is it just greenwashing? And how can it become an economically viable solution? In this episode of Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy, host Wes Ashworth sits down with Aditya Bhandari, Co-Founder & CEO of DACLab, Inc., to discuss how his company is pioneering a new approach to DAC that is cost-effective, energy-efficient, and commercially scalable.

Aditya shares his unconventional journey from biomedical and chemical engineering to leading a carbon capture company, the breakthrough technology DACLab has developed, and how their "Decoupled Process Version 3" is setting new industry standards. He also dives into common misconceptions about DAC, why location is key for scaling, and how oil and gas companies can leverage DAC as part of their energy transition strategy.

Throughout the conversation, Aditya provides real-world insights on the business model behind DACLab, why they focus on R&D and manufacturing rather than project development, and how direct air capture can act as a bridge to a net-zero future. Plus, he shares his bold vision for the industry, predictions for the next 10 years of carbon removal, and the critical role that geothermal energy and waste heat sources play in making DAC economically viable.

Whether you’re a clean energy executive, investor, policymaker, or just passionate about climate tech, this episode is packed with practical insights on the future of carbon removal, energy policy, and commercialization strategies for emerging clean technologies.

Topics Covered in This Episode:
✔️ How direct air capture (DAC) works in simple terms
✔️ The biggest misconceptions about DAC (greenwashing, energy use, scalability)
✔️ How DAC can be an economic opportunity, not just a climate necessity
✔️ Why DAC should be treated as a waste management problem
✔️ The role of geothermal energy and waste heat in making DAC cost-effective
✔️ How oil & gas companies can leverage DAC in their transition to renewables
✔️ Why DACLab focuses on R&D and manufacturing instead of project development
✔️ The future of DAC: Scaling from pilot plants to 10 million metric tons by 2035
✔️ What the Department of Energy’s policy shifts could mean for carbon capture
✔️ The industries set to benefit the most from DAC technology (aviation, concrete, sequestration)

💡 Key Takeaway:
Direct air capture is not a silver bullet, but it’s a critical piece of the net-zero puzzle. It must be developed alongside renewable energy to provide real, scalable solutions for decarbonization.

🔗 Learn More About DACLab: www.daclab.us
Aditya Bhandari on LinkedIn

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Wes Ashworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslgs/

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